Locking device for automobiles



1. P. GERAGHTY. .LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

-APPLICATION FILED'MAY 3. 1919. v

- Pawnted June 8 19201.

- 2 SHEETSSHE ET 1.

h W 20' 75 75 75 Jo/mBGeragki 1 BY A TTOR/VEVS -J. P. GERAGHTY, LO'CKINGDEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION HLED MAY 3 1919.

Patented June 8 1920;

, eas es.

JOHN P. GERAGHTY, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES. l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN P. GERAGHTY, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey Cit in the countyof Hudson and State of N ew Jersey, have invented a new and ImprovedLocking Device for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide anew and improved lockingdevice for automobiles and similar vehicles and arranged to preventunauthorized persons from start ing and running the motor therebypreventing such persons from stealing the vehicle. Another object is toprovide means within the hood inclosing the motor 'to prevent startingof the motor and to provide a locking means for locking the hood toprevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to such means with aView to prevent starting of the motor. Another object is to provide aplurality of devices for rendering various parts of the motorinoperative to prevent even highly skilled, unauthorized experts fromrunning OH, with the car even if one of the said devices is renderedoperative owing to the remaining devices being still in inoperativeposition thereby preventing starting of the motor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consistsof certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the forward end of anautomobile provided-with the improved lockin device,

of the same on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1192 11 Application filed May 3, 1919. Serial No. 29L622.

between the carbureterand the inlet manifold of the motor;

Fig. 6 is an enlargedv face View of the i switch interposed in theelectric igniting system to break the ignition circuit when ever it isdesired to render the motor inoperative; X

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the permutation lockfor locking the several devices when in operative "position,

and c. X Fig. 8 is a face'view of the same.

On the chassis 10 of an automobile or other vehicle is mounted the usualmotor 11 inclosed within a hood 12 adapted'to be locked to the. chassisby interior locking devices 15, preferably two on each side, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, but alike in construction so that it suflices to describebut one in detail. On the inner face of the hood 12 is secured a keeper16 adapted to be engaged by a bolt 17 mounted to slide in a guideway 18attached to the chassis 10. The bolt 17 is normally out .of engagementwith the keeper 16and the bolt is'attached to or forms part. of alongitudinally extending rod 19 provided near its rear end with a pivot20 connected by a link 21 withan arm 22 secured on a shaft 23 extendingtransversely and journaled in suitable bearings 24 attached to thetransverse partition 25 forming part of the dashboard 26. The shaft 23is provided with an arm 30 pivotally connected with the forward end of alink 31 extending rearwardly through the partition 25 and the dashboard26 and through the footboard 32 formingpart of the dashboard 26. Therear end of the link 31 is pivotally connected with a pedal 33- pivotedat 34 to the footboard 32 and under the control of the operator incharge of the automobile. A spring 35 attached to the under side of thefootboard 32 is connected with a collar 36 held on the'link 31 tonormally hold the latter in rearmost position at therear end of the hood12, the partition ion with the pedal 33 standing upright, as I plainlyindicated in Figs. 1 and 2.. Each of the rods 19 is mounted .to slide inthe lower portions of the bearings 18 to insure. proper engagement "ofthe bolts 17 with the keepers 16 whenever the pedal 33 is pushed forwardand a rocking motion is given-to the shaft 23. which by the arms 22 andlinks 21 causes a forward sliding movement of hood 12 in closed positionthereby preventconnecting the pipe 51 with the manifold 52.

ing access to the motor 11.

Within the hood 12 are arranged a plu-' rality ofdevices .controlledfrom the shaft 23 and connected with difierent members of the motor 11for renderingthe latter inoperative by each of the said devices. Asshown in the drawin s, use is made of a shut-off valve 40 arrange in thepipe 411 connecting the reservoir 42 with the carbureter of the motor,it being understood'that this valve 40 is normally in open position butis moved into closed position whenever the operator presses the pedal 33in a forward direction. It is .understood that when the valve 40 isclosed the supply of" the motor fuel is cut off and hence the motorcannot be run. .The valve 40 is provided with an arm 42 connected by alink 43 with an arm 4: 1 secured on the rock shaft 23 and hence when thelatter is rockedon pressing the pedal 33 the valve 10 is moved intoclosed position for the purpose mentioned.

' The butterfly valve 50 arranged in the pipe 51' connecting thecarbureter with the intake manifold 52 of the motor is provided with arock shaft 55 on one outer end of which is secured the usual arm 56connected with the usual controlling mechanism under the control of theoperator for moving the butterfly valve 50 into open or closed po-.sition. When the automobile is stopped the butterfly valve 50 is usuallymoved into closedposition by the operator correspondingly manipulatingthe actuating device for the butterfly valve, and in order to hold thebutterfly valve locked, when in closed position use is made of an arm 60fulcrumed on a bracket 61 attached to the flanges 62, 63

The free end of the arm 60 is in the form of a fork 65 adapted tostraddle the arm 56 thus holding the latter against movement. therebypreventing opening of the butterfly 50, as will be readily understood byreference to Fig. 5. The arm 60 is pivotally connected by a link 66 withan arm 67 attached to the rock shaft 23 sothat when'the latter is rockedas previously explained the arm 60 is swung forward into lockingengagement withathe arm 56 of the butterfly valve 50 thus holdin thelatter locked when in closed position. t is understood that when theutterfly valve 50 is locked in closed position the motor 11 cannot'bestarted and run,

Another device in the form of a switch is provided for breaking theignition circuit of the motor 11 thus rendering the latter inoperative.For this purpose use is made of a switch bar 70 mounted to slide up anddown 1n suitable bearings 71 arrangedon the front face ofthe partition25, and the lower endof this switch bar 7 O isprovided with a to thenumber of motor cylinders.

slot 72 engaged by a pin'73 held on an arm 74 attached to the shaft 23.Normally the switch bar 70 is in uppermost position but when the pedal33 is pressed and the shaft 23 is rocked as previously explained thenthe arm 74 impartsa downward sliding moveinent to the switch bar 70. Theswitch bar 7,0'is provided with a crossbar 79 of an insulating materialand on which are secured a number of spring contacts 80 corresponding Ihe spring contacts 80 normally engage contacts 81 mounted on thepartition 25 and connected by wires 82 with a timer connected with asource of electrical energy. The spring contacts 80 are connected bywires 83 with the spark plugs of the'engine cylinders. It will benoticed that when theparts are in a normal position, as shown in Figs.1, 2 and 6, then the wires 80 are electrically connected with the wires.83 to insure proper ignitionof the explosive mixture in the motorcylinders in the usual manner, but when. the pedal 33 is pressed forwardand a rocking movement is given to the shaft 23 then the switch bar 70is moved downward whereby the spring contacts SO-move out of engagementwith the contacts 81 thus breaking the ignition circuits for the severalmotor cylinders and thereby rendering the motor inoperative. Normallythe several devices are in inoperative position and are only moved intooperative position on the operator pressing the pedal 33 in a forwarddirection against the tension of the spring 35,

it being understood that when this takes place the hood 12 is locked,the valve 40 is moved into closed position, the butterfly valve 50 islockedagainst movement, and,

the ignition circuits for the several motor cylinders are broken. Hence,the motor is rendered inoperative and the hood 12 is locked by theinterior locking device thus preventing access to the motor and the several devices above referred to.

In order to hold the bolts 17 in looking position, the valve 40 inclosed position, the arm 60 in locking position, the switch bar 70 incircuit breaking positionand I the pedal 33 in forward position, use ismade of a locking bolt adapted to engage an aperture 91 formed in'theupper end of the switch bar 70. The bolt 90 is, mounted to slide in acasing 92 mounted on the partition 25 and the dashboard 26, and the bolt90 is pressed on by 'a spring 93-to normally hold the bolt in rearmostposition, that is, ,out of engagement with the switch bar70. The rearend 94, of the bolt 90 roj'ects beyond the face'of the dashboard 26 andis adapted to be engaged by a locking arm 95 pivoted on a bracket 96attached to the face of the dashboard 26. Immediately after a forwardswinging movement has bee g v n t the p al 33, as above derear end 94 ofthe boltl90thus pushing the scribed, the operator swings the locking arm95 upward into engagement with the latter forward and into engagementwith the aperture 91 of the switch bar 7 0 now ,in lowermost position,thus locking the switch bar in this position. It is understood that whenthe bolt '90 engages the aperture 91 the switch bar 70 is locked inlowermost position, and as this switch bar 70 is connected with the rockshaft 23 the latter and the several devices connected therewith,including the pedal 33, are held in locked position with the severaldevices in operative position.

When the arm 95 is swung upward its free end 97 engages a locked frame100 attached to the upper portion of the dashboard and thisframe 100forms a part of a permutation lock of any approved construction, butpreferably of the construction more fully shown and described in theapplication for Letters Patent of the United States, No. 291,028, filedby me on April 18, 1919. The permutation lock is provided with a lookingslide 101 adapted to'engage the freeend 97 of the lockingarm 95 to lockthe latter in closed position, and the said-locking slide 101 iscontrolled by tumblers 102 mounted to turn on the frame 100. andprovided with the usual letters, numerals and other characters (see Fig.8) to permit of setting the tumblers to any desired combination andwhich combination is only known to the operator in charge'of the vehicleand hence unauthorized persons cannot'open the lock and release the arm95. -When the operator in charge desires to start the vehicle, he setsthe tumblers 102 to the predetermined combination thus unlocking the arm95 and allowing the same to swing downward intov unlocking position thusreleasing the bolt 90. The latter now returns by itsspring 93 torearmost position thus disengaging the switch bar 70. When this takesplace the several parts return to their normal inoperative position. bythe action of the spring connected with the pedal link 81. It isunderstood that when this takes place the hodd 12 is unlocked, the valve40 moves into open position, the arm 60 disengages the arm 56 of thebutterfly valve 50, the spring contacts 80- move into on gagement withthe contacts 81 thus closing the ignition circuits, and the pedal 33returns to normal uprightposition.

' Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters.

Patent 1. In a motordriven vehicle, a motor, a hood inclosing the motor,a locking device within the hood for locking the latter, a

plurality of motor controlling devices arranged within the hood andconnected with I different members of the motor for rendering the latterinefi'ective, a rock shaft within the hood and connected with the saidhood locking device and the said plurality of motor controlling devicesto simultaneously actuate the same, operating means controlled byanoperator and connected with the said shaft to actuate the same, andlooking means-controlled by an operator and connected with the saidshaft to lock the latter against-- rotation after the said hood lockingdevice .and the said plurality of motor controlling devices have beenmoved into operative position.

2. In a motor driven vehicle, a motor, a hood inclosing the motor, arock shaft arranged within the said hood, operating means under thecontrol of an operator and located outside-of the hood, the saidoperating means being connected with the said shaft to rock the latter,a locking device connected with and actuated from the said shaft, andarranged withinthe hood for looking the latter against opening, aplural- Y ity of devices arranged within the hood nnec ed with differentmembers of the motor for rendering the latter inelfective,the saidplurality of devices being connected withand actuated from the saidshaft, and a lock arranged outside of the hood and having a memberadapted to pass into the hood to lock the said rock shaft againstturning after the rock shaft istu'rned in one direction and the hoodlock and the pluwithin the hood and connected with difier ent members ofthe motor for rendering the latter ineffective, a rock shaft within thehood and connected with the said hood. lock ing device and the saidplurality of motor controlling devices to simultaneously actuate thesame, a pedal arranged outside of the hood and connected with the saidshaft 'to rock the latter in onedirection, spring means for returningthe shaft and pedal to normal position, and a manually controlledlocking means arranged outside of the hood and under thecontrol of anoperator, the said locking means being adapted to lock the rock shaftagainst rotation after the pedal has been actuatedand the said hoodlooking device and the plurality of motor controlling devices have beenmoved into operative position. v r

I 4. In a motor driven vehicle, a motor, a hood inclosing the motor, alocking device within the hood for locking the latter, a plurality ofmotor controlling devices arranged within the hood and connected withdifferent members of the motor for renderingthe' latter ineffective, arock shaft within the hood end connected With the said hoodlockingdevices and the said plurality of motor controllingdevices tosimultaneously actuate the same, a spring-pressed pedal arranged outsideof the hood and connected with the said shaft to rock the latter, and amanually controlled locking device arranged outside of the hood andincluding a bolt, one of the said motor controlled devices having anapertured member adapted to be engaged .by the said bolt to lock therock shaft against turning after the said pedal has been pressed byanoperator and the said hook locking device and the said motor controllingdevices have been moved into operative position.

5. In a-motor driven vehicle, a motor, a hood inclosing the motor, alocking device ithin the hood for locking the latter against opening, amotor controlling device arranged Within the hood and connected\ withthe said motor to render the latter inoperative, the said'controllingdevice being provided with a bar having an aperture, a rock shaftarranged Within the hood 'and connected With the said hood lockingdevice and With the said bar to simultaneously move the hood lockingdevice into locking position and the said motor controlling device intooperative position, means for rocking the said shaft, and a manuallycontrolled lock arranged outside of the hood hood, a device Within thehood for render-- ing inoperative the valve connecting the carbureterWith the inlet manifold of the motor, a device arranged Within the hoodfor breaking the ignition circuit of the motor, an actuating deviceunder the control of the operator in charge of the, vehicle andconnected With the said devices Within the hood to move the-said devicesinto operative position, a permutation lock for locking the said severaldev ces. in operatlve position,

the said permutation lock havin a'springhrough the pressed looking boltprojecting t dashboard of the vehicle, a locking frame mounted on thedashboard, a locking arm adapted to engage the bolt to move the latterinto locking position, the said locking arm being adapted to engage thesaid frame,

a locking plate engaging the said locking arm and mounted on the saidframe, and

tumblers adapted to lock the said locking plate.

7 JOHN P. GERAGHTY.

